So here you are! Trying to find a nice restaurant and enjoy a good dinner. Maybe your looking for a place to take your favorite lady or gentleman friend, fiancee or spouse, business associates or big-wig from out of town. Maybe you 're just in the mood for that dish that's been on your mind all week. You know, the one you promised you'd treat yourself to if you made the sale, got the job, solved the problem, passed the test, won the game... whatever. You just know this time it's too important to leave the choice to chance. Let me set you at ease. I can help. Why me? Good question. Well, that's what this "Blog Introduction" is here for. I tell you a bit about myself and about what standard I'll be using to rate these restaurants. Having done this, you can then be certain that this blog will help you find exactly what you are looking for.
My name is James Reedy and I'm the Executive Chef and Owner of a Personal Chef Services Company here in the St. Louis-St. Charles MO area. I have been a Chef for over 20 years and I specialize in both Fine Italian and American Cuisine. I was born in Catania, Sicily, to a career Navy man and a small town Sicilian girl. So, even though I can't ever run for President of the United States, it did provide a few advantages. Having spent most of my life in two different countries, and being surrounded with an Italian family deeply entrenched in the food industry, I gained a great perspective on both culture's view on food. I eventually received my training in Sicily and had various stints at many restaurants in both Italy and the US.
Here is the real important stuff... Along with being a trained Chef, I am a huge foodie, but not a self righteous food snob. I have had the best food from all over the world but I'm not above stopping at a fast food joint and grabbing a burger after a busy day. After 43 years of life and 20 years as a Chef, I know what's good and what is not. What are my food philosophies? I'm glad you asked: Food should taste great! That's Rule number 1. I know it seems obvious doesn't it, but to some it really isn't. Many chef's I know constantly sacrifice taste for what looks good on a plate, for what is healthier, for what sounds exotic (or sometimes even disgusting), or to say they cooked the dish using some ridiculous technique using dry ice and a car muffler. TASTE IS NUMBER ONE IN MY BOOK! I'm not saying that all the other stuff I mentioned above has no importance, I'm just saying that taste is paramount. When I go out to eat at a nice Restaurant I want the taste quality of the food to be commensurate to the price tag. If it tastes great then I will appreciate the look, exotic ingredients and technique used to make it, but not until it passes the taste test.
I understand that price is a concern for most of us. However, I will be reviewing Restaurants that most of us look at for a special occasion and not as an every day or week stop. That is not to say that I will not consider price, but I will do so in terms of value. Just to give you a little insight into how I process value, here is an example: I refuse to order a soda at a casual dinning restaurant because I find it offensive that restauranteurs across the board will charge $2-$3 dollars for something that costs them about $.12. I don't believe profit is a bad word, but I feel like I'm being taken for a fool when I am forced to pay 2,500% profit. On the other hand I'm not like a friend of mine who refuses to buy thin crust pizza over regular crust, even though he concedes he likes the thin crust better, just because he's not getting as much bang for his buck. If you agree with that mentality then I'm afraid your beyond my help. I will never be able to convince you that paying $30-$40 dollars for an 11oz. USDA Prime cut Fillet Mignon is worth your money when compared to the 22oz. steak with all you can eat french fries and green beans over at the Sizzler.
Another standard I'll use when Rating a Restaurant is: Service. Bad service can definitely ruin a good dinner. What do I consider Bad Service? Wow, another great question, you're on a roll. I don't expect a server to be ready to fill my glass every time it goes below half but I also don't expect to sit there sucking on ice cubes all night desperately wondering where my server has gone. I also believe a server should smile. Radical idea isn't it? They should behave as though they are happy to be there and happy to see me and to make me feel welcome. They should have a perfect mix of professionalism and friendliness. Every server should know their restaurants menu and be able to explain it as well as give their impressions on most items I ask about. Finally here is the big one for me: Through the years I've had the pleasure of working in sales and I'm a sucker for a good salesperson, but that is only when sales is that persons main job. I don't want to feel like I have to be on my guard because my server is constantly trying to raise my bill by hard selling or assumptive selling me a salad, and extra side or whatever. So, things like "Which one of our bottles of wine (or desserts) would you like me to open for you (bring you) with your entree (after your main course)?" or "Always suggesting I get the highest price items on the menu"or "Would you like a salad (or side) with that? (only to find out later that the salad or side was an additional charge)". Sorry, I don't like that. You're my server not a used car salesman. I've come here to relax and have fun not to be highjacked with half truths and extra charges. I have often left a great server a 50% tip because I appreciate a job well done. Yet, I will not hesitate to take the charge for that extra item I was saddled with, right out of the servers tip total.
Finally I will briefly touch on the Restaurants feel and look. This to me includes how loud the kitchen is as well as how pleasant the management is as well. I always try to speak to a manager if one does not approach me. I think it's important if you are dining somewhere and trying to make an impression that you don't find a manager that has a chip on his shoulder or that has smart alec comments in response to a concerns you may have. That can make you look like an idiot and ruin your special night very quickly.
I hope you enjoy my reviews and direct others to look me up as well. I welcome all comments and I am confident that my expert advise will help you choose the perfect restaurant for your perfect night out.
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